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The Pancha Mahabhuta culinary offering!
Elsie Gabriel
Innovative, classic and deeply embraced by
metaphysics was my last meal…….the offerings made by Chef Parimal Sawant of
Meluha the Fern ecotel Powai Mumbai India involved the five classical elements of life as the theme of every dish served up.
This concept Chef Parimal created came from the medieval system of five
elements which are found in the Vedas, especially Ayurvedas, the pancha
mahabhuta, or "five great elements", of Hinduism are Bhumi [earth], ap or jala
(water), tejas or agni(fire), marut or pavan (air or wind),
vyom; or shunya or aakash (space or sky). They further
suggest that all of creation, including the human body, is made up of these
five essential elements and that upon death, the human body dissolves into
these five elements of nature, thereby balancing the cycle of nature.
These
five elements are associated with the five senses, and act as the gross medium
for the experience of sensations says Chef Parimal. At the table, elements of
earth were created using all the five senses – hearing, touch, sight,
taste, and smell. There was Prithvi: Earth, Jal: Water, Vayu: Air,Agni: Fire and Akash:
sky. Each element had a different counter decorated by theme and garnished to
the hilt.
Explains Chef Parimal, “We
have to surrender to the five elements and not let just one single element
dominate.We must tune our minds and hearts to use each element effectively.”
For the Earth counter there
was Ice burg lettuce,Roman Lettuce,Blanched carrot Baton,Blanched Zucchini batons,Balched
Broccoli florets,Blanched Cauliflower carrots,Blanched Corn kernels,Blanched
French Beans,Grilled Peppers,Grilled Eggplant,Grilled Mushroom,Grilled Babycorn and Sprouts.
All of these could be accompanied by Black and green olives, Dry Roasted Nuts, Grated
Parmesan cheese, Grated Cheddar cheese, Grated Emmenthal cheese, Honey Lime
dressing, Maple Vinaigrette Dressing, Cocktail dressing
Balsamic Dressing and Tobasco Chilli Vinaigrette.
For the Fire counter Chef
Parimal laid out a lavish barbeque counter. Cajun spiced Chicken Piccata, Pesto
Chicken Piccata, Mustard Lime Kingfish Darne,Thai chilli Spiced King Fish
Darne, Tomato Basil Chilli Salsa, Roasted Pineapple Salsa,Citrus Fruit Salsa, Mint
Yoghurt Dip, Cocktail Mayo Dip and Citrus Chilli Aioli.
For the Air counter there
was a steaming array of Chicken Dim sum,Vegetable Dimsums all made
with steam and air, served up well with Hot Garlic Sauce,Ginger
Onion Sauce,Sweet Chilly Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce and Chilli vinegar sauce.
For the water counter there
were soups galore. Gazpacho Vichyssoise,Cream of Chicken Mulligatawny,Steam rice, Lemon Wedges and croutons.There were also two lively fish holders,elongated horizontal zigzaggered tanks with colourful fish swimming inside them,which I found very innovative.
For the Sky counter,there
were blue cocktails and mock tails to tickle you senseless.
Of course we eat these
dishes every day, but how many of us take a minute to bow our heads ,fold our
hands and give praise to the very existence of the five elements of nature. It
was simply wonderful. A simple consuming thought that will remain with me for
life!
The power of the five
elements of the world well explained and recaptured at Chef Parimal’s table was
a blessing, and an insightful learing lesson in disguise.Gracias!
